Beltronics STI-R Radar Detector Not Detecting

Hi all, I had a Beltronics STI-R detector installed in my car along with the laser interceptor laser jammers. The laser interceptor works great, the Beltronics does not. I have to be right in front of the cop for it to go off, then it's only about one little bar on the graph. I'm including a picture of where the sensor is on my dash; is this location preventing it from detecting radar or could it be a defective unit? The installer said there wasn't much they could do about it.

Re: Beltronics STI-R Radar Detector Not Detecting

Originally Posted by stuckbehindaprius

Hi all, I had a Beltronics STI-R detector installed in my car along with the laser interceptor laser jammers. The laser interceptor works great, the Beltronics does not. I have to be right in front of the cop for it to go off, then it's only about one little bar on the graph. I'm including a picture of where the sensor is on my dash; is this location preventing it from detecting radar or could it be a defective unit? The installer said there wasn't much they could do about it.

I have the exact same setup. Just add a Valentine 1 (for the rear antenna and the arrows) and some rear LI heads and you have arguably the best setup rolling.

Now, as to your specific problem...I hate to say this, but I think it's your INSTALLER that is your main problem.

First and foremost, the "sensor" that you are talking about (and that is shown in the picture) is NOT your receiver....that's your GPS antenna.

I have attached a link showing some intall pictures in my V. In mine, the installer put that GPS antenna under my dash right in front of my instrument cluster, and it works perfectly there (see the third picture in the link below). The location of your GPS antenna is NOT causing your problems, and no offense, but just sticking your GPS antenna to the dash like that isn't really an "install" in my books.

In the second picture in my link, you can see where we mounted my antenna. It is just inboard of the driver's side headlight, mounted on the bumper. Obviously it is completely hidden behind the bumper cover, but ity works perfectly there as radar (microwaves) pass right through the bumper cover material as if it isn't even there (my car is Black Raven, the particles in the Black Diamond paint might interfere with reception). Of course, the antenna can't pick up LIDAR being behind the bumper, but I have the LIs for that and I have LIDAR disabled in my STiR + settings.

The fact that you are getting very weak alerts indicates that the unit seems to be working. What I suspect is that wherever your "installer" mounted your receiver, it is almost completely blocked by something causing very weak reception.

Where is your actual receiver mounted? Send some pics. I would suggest you will need to go back to your installer and have him do it properly. From waht I've seen so far, I might even ask for a refund or some money back and take it somewhere else. Send a picture of your LI heads as well....the installation of the LI heads is CRITICAL - location, square, level, etc. ....and if the same place installed those, I am willing to bet you will have some major problems with those as well.